Rajlakshme Bhattacharya, a passionate educator and academic coordinator, discusses how in today’s world of rapid technological growth, libraries are transforming to keep up with modern needs. Smart libraries blend traditional features with advanced technologies like AI, IoT, and digital tools. They make learning more engaging, interactive, and accessible for everyone. This shift is helping both students and teachers enjoy a smarter library experience.
Libraries are considered the source of knowledge, information through written books. But, in this age of fast technological developments and digital evolution, the traditional libraries face the challenge of meeting the demands of modern society. Smart libraries are a combination of traditional libraries infused with the latest technologies. The libraries come with automation, artificial intelligence, IoT, and digital resources to bring in a brilliant library experience. They can create more interactive and better spaces and access for the users. The traditional libraries have the limitation in accessibility, while smart libraries come with information in as many formats as e-books, audiobooks, and digital archives, so that a wider spectrum of audience can use them. Also, automation can help reduce the time spent by the librarian for various tasks like cataloguing, check in and check-outs as seen in traditional libraries. The librarians can interact better with the readers. The smart libraries are known to reduce human errors and improve inventory management. The smart libraries, with the help of AI systems, can provide better recommendations to the users based on their reading habits, which will improve user satisfaction and the learning experience. With impressive illustrations, the technologies will give better insight into the topic. When we digitise the resources and reduce dependence on physical materials, there is higher sustainability with less paper usage and better energy consumption. The libraries can also arrange for interactive workshops to bring people closer, and they can also enable remote participation so that everyone will be involved.
Role of virtual reality and augmented reality
Virtual reality is a technology to create a simulated environment, mostly in three dimensions, that looks real. This is made possible by way of special hardware, such as headsets, which make everything real. When people wear the virtual reality headset, they can go around to pick the books of their choice as they did in traditional libraries and join others in reading sessions. Augmented reality is something that overlays images, videos, and sounds into the real world. This can be achieved through devices like tablets or smartphones for real-time interaction. In the case of libraries, when we integrate these two technologies, the user experience is enhanced and making the library more engaging. To start with, we can take some steps. We have to assess what the needs are for such a change, and then we have to find out which one is more useful to everyone. With virtual reality, a virtual tour of all the library facilities can be done. A reader can get an immense reading experience in this, apart from interactive learning sessions with other readers from across the globe. With augmented reality, better cataloguing and navigation can be done easily. Displays of resources and interactive books can be seen here. There will be higher user participation, engagement, and make use of it.
Smart libraries will handle information from magazines, newspapers, unlike traditional libraries, which have restricted access. The virtual libraries get the direct information from channels and provide up-to-date information. They also help in developing critical thinking as they have access to vast data, interact with many people in the world, and are not restricted to specific areas. People have to be trained first to handle the software and hardware. The users should also be aware of augmented reality and virtual reality. Awareness needs to be built first among the users.
So, we have to find out the necessity, needs, and objectives of such an integration of virtual reality and augmented reality. We have to analyse which part of the library will benefit more from using these two technologies. We can decide based on the requirements of the library. Then we have to choose the most suitable virtual reality and augmented reality hardware and software, which will depend on the requirements and financial considerations. We can procure Virtual reality headsets, augmented reality glasses, tablets, and other gadgets based on the software and platform. First, we have to train the staff as well as the users of these technologies. The library staff should be fully trained to manage the technologies and how to make the utmost use of them. Then we can integrate virtual reality and augmented reality in the library services in the traditional library system and services such as catalogues, resource management, and user interface. The user will be able to have a virtual tour of the library, reading experiences, cataloguing, and interactive book displays.
Awareness among public and feedback
As the next step, we have to promote these technologies to the user by creating awareness among the people, as there is no such awareness as of now. We can do this by marketing campaigns, making use of social media, and arranging events. They should be made aware of the benefits and the extraordinary experience of using these technologies. Feedback on the experience with the technologies from the user is very important. We should analyse the feedback to find out areas where there is scope for improvement and find out how we can further refine the integration. This process is a continuous one, and hence, the technology services have to be a continuous issue. It is essential to stay informed about the development of technologies and incorporate the new features once they are available. When we follow these steps, we can say the libraries can integrate the technologies to improve the library experience and to keep abreast of the digital evolution.
Challenges, privacy, and security concerns
The challenges will creep in with any new upgrade that we do, and will create some problems. We need to attend to them as and when they arise. Though it may give us an enhanced learning experience, technology has its own limitations and cost issues. The staff have to be trained well in the technology, which involves time and cost. It may take some time for any user to get used to the system. We have to work on how secure the technology is and the privacy aspect. By the time the users get used to the technology, there could be another technology taking over. We should be able to adapt to the changes quickly.
Prospects and benefits
There are many benefits, such as improved user experience and engagement, innovative teaching methods and learning experiences, inclusivity, and accessibility. As we integrate virtual reality and augmented reality, the smart libraries become more promising and full of potential and more exciting. There is space for interactive learning, too. Education can improve a lot when students are provided with interactive learning experiences, explore history, work on scientific concepts, and literature, which becomes memorable. They can get access to remote details too. Those who are unable to visit the libraries physically can make use of the smart libraries. The users will be able to understand the library’s layout, collections, and resources even from their homes. The technologies will bring in interactive elements to books, such as stories, which will benefit children as they can see the characters come alive, interact with them, and reading becomes a more enjoyable experience for the children. Also, cataloguing and navigation save time and make work easier. The users can make use of smartphones to scan QR codes and access augmented reality markets to get all the details about the books, summaries, reviews, and resources, and they can analyse the libraries better. There can be virtual events and exhibitions, get authors give presentations, and conduct workshops with the help of virtual reality. A much larger audience can participate from across the globe. They can be preserved for future usage also. The smart libraries can also cater to individual needs and preferences, and learning modules.
Equal access to all and acquiring digital materials
Since the smart libraries will have all catalogues in all areas, such as accountancy or commerce, if the user wants to access the resource on any of the subjects, they can go through the same and refer to the topics in the usual way. The only difference is that it is done on an online platform. The same books that are available in the traditional library will be registered in the online platform. So the users can choose the books they want without visiting the library. Of course, it will involve a lot of backend work from the library team, and virtual tours are included in the library software and are integrated into the software. It is not easy to maintain the virtual library collection as we do not have completely trained resources now. But very soon, we will have such resources to make the experience easy and regular.
Rajlakshme Bhattacharya points out that AI is an important part of the library. Traditional libraries will continue to exist, but we need smart libraries now for the current generation, who do not have much time to go to libraries and get the resources. Smart libraries will be empowering the users for the digital era, and we need to keep updating accordingly. She concludes her talk saying, “The integration of virtual reality and augmented reality in smart libraries opens up a world of possibilities, transforming traditional libraries into dynamic, interactive, and user-centred spaces. As technology continues to advance, the potential for innovation in library services is virtually limitless.”
This is a summary of the talk given by the author on schoolreformer.com
Contact details
Rajalakshme Bhattacharya
Educator and Academic Coordinator
Mob: 9739171790
Email: rajlakshme.b@gmail.com